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This CD is excellent. There is a great variety in the songs as always, along with fanastic lyrics. Skyclad didn't miss a beat losing Martin Walkyier, which is surprising since he wrote a lot of the lyrics.

I have to disagree.....I like them much better with Walkyier. This album is much different from that earlier stuff......I think the score is waaaaaaaay too high for this release. I'd give it in the low 70's.

Jay, you mention that Walkyier sings but yet Crims mentions they haven't skipped a beat without him. Maybe you confused that he wrote the lyrics but someone else actually sang them....

I'd say a 92 is about right. A perfectly written album IMO. Kevin took some getting used to as the new vocalist but for the most part he does a good job. Musically this is the best they've done since Irrational Anthems. Though Martin is missed I'm glad they pushed on and released such a solid album.

I also think they were a stronger band with Martin, but this is a solid album that shouldn't be ignored. It may lack some punch in the vocals, but it still has great music.

The review should be corrected. This is the first "proper" Skyclad album without Martin on vocals. Not only does the review attribute the vocals and lyrics to Martin, it also suggests that he is the main 'Clad writer---that would be Steve Ramsey. A Semblance is an excellent album.. certainly on par with Skyclad's Martin works. I would rank the Skyclad albums from best to worst as follows.

Jonah's Ark (best Skyclad album and easily one of the best metal albums period)
Vintage Whine
Prince of the Poverty Line
Burnt Offering For the Bone Idol
Irrational Anthems
A Semblance of Normality
Wayward Sons of Mother Earth
The Answer Machine
Folkemon
Silent Whales of Lunar Sea
No Daylights Nor Heeltaps
Oui Avant-Garde a Chance (a merely "good" album, with too much filler. It should have been an EP)

You can find my review for this album on metal-archives. 90/100

First of all, Martin Walkier have not done the lyrics and have not sing in this album. He is no longer with the band and work on an album with Ascaria (http://www.theclandestined.com).

Second, Jeff, you seems to not know this band very well. I know Skyclad since the begining (Wayward son...) and this album is clearly one of the best with Jona's Ark. In fact, i think it's the best album this year so far. Martin was a great song writer and a great singer but Kevin Ridley have done a really great job. The writing and the sining are incredible!!!

SO FOR THE POEPLE WHO HAVE OPEN MIND AND DON'T WANT TO HEAR ALWAYS THE SAME DEATH METAL BULLSHIT OR POWER METAL CLONE, THIS ALBUM WILL BE IN YOUR CD PLAYER FOR MONTH TO COME...NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

No offense. Honestly. But can we drop the "screw your [insert mocking adjective here] brand of [mocking disfigurement of "death", "power", "prog", "black"] 'metal' and listen to REAL MUSIC"? Music is highly subjective. And we shall see if this stays in my player. Recently only the latest Sonata, Turisas' debut and the Megadeth remasters have occupied my player.

Also, let me add that after 10 studio albums, Skyclad more or less were able to explore all facets of Walkyier's voice, and lyrically, I think Walkyier had the time to say whatever he wanted. Ridley is a welcome breath of fresh air, and the music on Semblance suits his voice a lot more than it would have Walkyier's.

I would have to echo cquerin here in that Martin had nothing to do with this release, and the band deserves praise for managing to pull it off and giving us this great album without him. I think it is definately one of their best. The album is far more diverse than any previous Skyclad album and I'm looking forward to seeing what they'll do next.

I think you are wrong to tell me that I don't have an open mind. I listen to a wide variety of stuff now because I'm objective and have an open mind. I have Wayward Sons of Mother Earth and really like it. That's not to say I don't like other releases by this band. It's different for me, that's all....... 8)

Dude, Wayward Sons of Mother Earth was their first of 11 studio albums. By the time of their third album, the band already sounds nothing like Wayward Sons of Mother Earth. There are probably many Walkyier albums you wouldn't enjoy as well: The Answer Machine?, for example. To release 10 albums in 10 years and to have each one sound completely unique is an astounding feat. It was a given that the band would serve up something unique on "A Semblance of Normality" and they sure did.

Well, I didn't had the chance to listen to this Album... But in terms of variety, my all-time-favorit Album is "The Human Equation" which is almost spinning nonestop in my CDplayer since the day of release early this year... Do you think this album is worth listening and can compete with Ayreon's latest release... or am I talking off topic and "A Semblance of Normality" is a completly different kind of metal at all?
Cause I am open minded especially concerning outstanding music which seeks new directions and styles... but it is pretty hard to find those few Albums that really "kick ass".

The album has nothing to do with prog. Skyclad doesn't flex all its muscles.. it uses the right ones at the right time. Many songs are quite folky, while others have a more orchestra element (but not pompously so).

Skyclad is not prog

This album isn't very good. The vocals are just plain bad. The instruments are rather boring and it relies way too heavily on symphonic elements.

It's alright, but compare this to "Nightwish - Once" or "Angra - Temple of Shadows". Those also use symponic elements (especially Nightwish), but those albums are FAR superior. In literally every aspect.

Haven't heard the Angra, but the new Nightwish is the most overrated release of 2004. Here's my metal-archives review

http://www.metal-archives.com/review.php?id=39218#112

The Skyclad album has nothing to do with the releases you mentioned. It is not symphonic power metal. This is folk metal. Personally I find Kevin's vocals here more fitting than Martin's softer style on some of the other latter day Skyclad releases.

That's fine that you like those better though. The new Angra is better IMO but I prefer "Sembleance" way more than the new Nightwish, even if Once is pretty good.

I still didn't listen to the Skyclad Album... but to keep the conversation alive... I don't think you can consider THE as a pure prog Album 'cause there are so many different music styles on THE that it won't fit in any kategory... that's just what makes it so interesting... it's unique! (there are even some folky songs on there!)